Letters to the editor

Council caution
To Editor:

The current administration advocates for a government reform, a line-item veto, and reducing our current 88 delegates down to 24. If the reduction happens, some of the 88 delegates’ positions are in limbo. Therefore, I strongly believe that the current elected delegates should be more stringent and cautious on how they vote on certain legislations on behalf of their constituents, i.e., “The Navajo Nation Tobacco-Free Act of 2009.”

We, the people of the great Navajo Nation, know that the legislation has been strongly supported by the five agencies that make up our reservation, and so should the leaders. Your constituents have spoken their voices and do want a healthier Navajo Nation. Remember, if this reform initiative act should ever make it into the election and if the Navajo people were to decide on what’s in their best interest, we the people will speak. Granted, the people will not be misled again — a “yes” vote will be a “yes” vote and a “no” vote will be “no” and will mean “no.” We will not be tricked again.

Our chapters are the local governmental unit within the Navajo Nation and there’s 110 chapters that represent the foundation of the Navajo Nation government and are designed to provide a forum to address local needs. So, I urge you elected delegates to vote with your heart on this very important health issue for the sake of your people, community, the children, and their future. It’s important that you leaders look out for the benefit of your people’s health for they are the ones that elected you into your current positions are council delegates.

To date, our legislation, the Navajo Nation Tobacco-Free Act of 2009, has come before four standing committees: Health and Social Services, voting 7-0, Public Safety, 5-1-1, Judiciary, 4-1, and the Government Services, 1-3. This is astounding to me. For those of you who continue to support our legislation ‘Ahéhee’ very much and we truly are appreciative of your support. We know that you truly value our Navajo way of life, and that air is a sacred element to us, and also have the common knowledge of providing a healthier Navajo Nation. As for those who continue to oppose our bill — I don’t know who you support, perhaps Bob Winters? As for the rest of Team Navajo, thank you for your hard work and efforts as we continue to strive to educate and advocate on behalf of our people.

Lemuel S. Harvey,
Albuquerque

Unfair labels
To Editor:

I was reading the article about the “Walking the walk.”

The underlining of it had “Most feel new walkway still a haven for drunks”

You know it burns me up when there is an issue about a ‘drunk’ it doesn’t seem to fail there’s a Native American picture right there to be displayed. No wonder Gallup can’t get the label off of “Drunk town USA” because the local paper publish the issues.

If you stop and think about what Native Americans went through past and present you realize that cultures have been destroyed. Families are at a dispute because of ‘religion’ has come to the reservation ... loss of identity to the Native people.

Let me put a little history for you to see why the Native people are the way they are...some rise and some fall. When they fall in life, drugs and alcohol are the pain reliever. When they rise, not much of it is in the newspaper for their success, only the failures in life.

Another thing, Native people that go to church are not willing to help their own people ... they point their finger and call them “the bad ones.” They are so quick to judge, and turn their backs on them. Why do you think they are in the park passed out? There’s nowhere to go and nowhere to turn.

I am probably not the only one that’s offended by the remark of ‘drunks’, maybe most of the tribe are embarrassed when they looked at the article and complained, but never did anything. Yes, there are services, but they are just another case.

Here’s that little history and what became of what most Native Americans or should I say the cause and effects:
http://brownvboard.org/brwnqurt/04-3/04-3a.htm

There’s some documentation that won’t be listed because of the reputation; stories that were passed down how little boys and girls were raped by preachers, speaking the language was disciplined by being beaten and starvation, religion was only the practice by the church, and much more.

When the ancestors were assimilated down, the line cultures were destoryed, language hanging by a limb, and church was the only way.

So, these drunks are the outcome because most of our Native ways has changed drastically and turn away from their own people because they are not met with expectation. I believe in thedays 150 years ago, that our own people would not turn their backs, but to help them. No remarks, judgements, jealous, and “look-down” on them.

I try to give these human beings who are lost food rather than money. When I go back home, I rather have them with a hand of food and talk a little, to encourage them that not everyone walks away from them and say “eeeewww!!”

No matter who they are or what their lifestyle is, I show respect. Some people may not like it that I help them because they look at it as a ‘lost cause’, but I see it as ‘life is hard, but a helping hand is always in need’.

Watch how you label people, you never know who is labeling you!

Toni Marshall,
Gallup

Editor’s note: The Independent did not identify any subjects of photographs in “Walking the walk” as Native American.